Debut against old team-mates is dream start to London Irish career, says Guest

Exiles' new back-row forward relishes prospect of facing Harlequins in opening game of season at Twickenham

Experienced forward: Tom Guest has been lined up for a leadership role at London Irish (Photo: Action Images/Paul Harding)

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Tom Guest says it will be a dream to face his former club Harlequins in his first Premiership appearance for London Irish.

The former England Saxons back-row forward has already been winding up his ex-team-mates by texting them pictures of himself in his new Exiles training kit.

Guest found out on his first day of training with Irish that Quins will be their opponents in the London Double Header on September 6.

He said: “Kieran McCarthy (London Irish team manager) came down and gave me the message.

“It is the dream game really – especially as it’s the first game, and at Twickenham. Hopefully we’ll get a good start to the season.”

Guest, who joined Irish on a two-year deal this summer, spent 12 years with Quins where he won the Premiership play-off title in 2012 and Amlin Cup in 2011.

He remains particularly good friends with Quins players Mark Lambert and Tom Williams, and is looking forward to trying to put one over his old team-mates.

“I’ve sent a couple of photos of me wearing the Irish kit and they’ve given me a bit of stick about it. It will be good fun to play against them.” he said.

Guest, who turned 30 this month, insists that the challenge of helping Irish grow in stature is a big attraction.

And he revealed it did not take long for Irish’s director of rugby Brian Smith to persuade him to switch clubs.

He said: “I really liked the plan and the vision Smithy came up with and what he was saying about the new training ground and where the club want to be.

“I’d been in at the beginning with Quins as they climbed to the top and I want to make that journey again – that feeling of helping take a team to where they want to be.

“That’s the main reason for me coming here.”

Joining Quins’ near neighbours meant Guest did not need to uproot his family.

He said: “I’ve got a wife and kids, so it’s easier for them, but that wasn’t really my main thinking.

“The main thing was being in a team setting out on the beginning of the road and what I could bring to that and how I want to be involved and take that forward.

“We have a great opportunity to make a mark this year and set ourselves up well for the next few years.

“It’s a building year but we also want to push on in all the cups and everyone wants to be involved in the top tier of European competition so that’s something we all need to build towards achieving.”

“I realised I was coming to the end of my time at Quins. Realistically for a long time I’ve wanted a change of direction to give myself extra impetus and go out there and show what I’ve got.

“It’s a bit more mentally exciting to learn new things and push yourself in every regard. Get yourself in the right place.”

Irish’s approach to rugby is very similar to Quins as both clubs endeavour to play attacking, running rugby whenever possible.

Guest, who used to play in the same Maidenhead Colts side as James Haskell, Nils Mordt and Max and Tom Evans, continued: “People think that Quins try to throw the ball around from everywhere, but that’s not the case.

“They try to find a lot of space and that often means dropping back to where you can run it deeper than normal.

“I think that’s where we want to be with Irish.

“That’s the type of game I like to play. It’s much more enjoyable as a player, even if it’s a bit riskier.

“Some teams like kicking the ball away when they get it and put you under pressure.

“Everyone here, though, wants to play with the ball in hand and test themselves, have a go and put other teams under pressure with our skills and our ability.

"It can go wrong, but when it goes right it is definitely the winning game.”